Winter Reading Challenge

Winter is here! Whether you’re curled up inside with a hot beverage, headed to the mountains to play in the snow, or traveling someplace warmer, winter can be a great time to read. With that in mind, adult patrons are invited to join our third annual Winter Reading Challenge!

From January 1 to March 31, grab one of our bingo cards, read, mark off the categories to complete a bingo or a blackout, and get entered to win fun prizes.

Program generously sponsored by the Yakima Valley Libraries Foundation with support from Inklings Bookshop.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Pick up a bingo card at your local library or download and print a Bingo card from the YVL website.

2. Pick your books. If you’re stumped or would like suggestions, ask your librarian or bookseller, try out our NoveList Plus database, or check one of our online book lists below, specially curated for some of the topics appearing on the bingo cards.

3. Read! (This step is our favorite.)

4. Fill in book titles and authors on your bingo card for a bingo or a blackout.

5. Return your completed card(s) to your local library by March 31st and fill out an entry form for one of several prizes.

6. Tell your friends about the awesome new books you discovered!

THE FINE PRINT: You are on your honor to read books before adding them to your Winter Reading Challenge bingo card. Cheating, skimming, or just reading reviews online will invoke bad winter karma which may include sniffles, lack of marshmallows in your hot chocolate, or losing your mittens.

Pick up a Bingo card at your local library, or print one from the YVL website (visit: yvl.org/winter).

Read! And work toward a BINGO or blackout by filling in book titles and authors on your Bingo card.

Return your completed card to your local library by March 31st and fill out an entry form for one of several prizes.

DO I HAVE TO READ PRINT BOOKS?Nope! You’re encouraged to enjoy all book formats, including books on CD, ebooks, downloadable audiobooks, etc.DO I HAVE TO READ LIBRARY BOOKS?Obviously, we love it when you check out books from your local community library, but books you own, borrow from a friend, or buy, all definitely count!WHAT IF I NEED IDEAS ABOUT WHAT TO READ?If you’re stumped or would like book suggestions for some of the Bingo squares, you can ask library staff or a local bookseller, check out NoveList Plus, or use one of YVL’s online book lists, some of which were specifically created for this program.MY CHILD(REN) WOULD LOVE THIS! CAN THEY PLAY, TOO?Sorry, no. This program is limited to adults 18 and older; however, we invite children and teens to participate in our annual summer reading program, which begins in June.I READ A BOOK THAT COULD BE APPLIED TO MULTIPLE SPACES ON MY BINGO CARD. CAN I DO THAT?Again, no—you can only use each title once.WHAT IF I STARTED A BOOK IN 2018, BUT FINISHED IT AFTER THE NEW YEAR, AND/OR BEFORE I GOT MY BINGO CARD? If it fits one of the categories, feel free to use it! As long as you were still reading the book at the start of 2019, it counts.WHY DOES MY FRIEND’S CARD HAVE DIFFERENT SQUARES THAN MINE?Since traditional BINGO cards are all different to make the game more interesting, we decided to offer a few different book BINGO cards, too.CAN I COMPLETE MORE THAN ONE BINGO CARD?Of course. It’s a Reading Challenge, after all—so, read away! (Why not try to fill them all?)YOU MENTIONED PRIZES. TELL ME MORE…If you complete and return your game board by March 31st, you can enter your name in a drawing for one of several prizes – you choose which prize jar you would like your entry to go in.Prizes include gift cards, VIP library experiences, and more. With your first entry, you will also automatically be entered in a drawing for one of our grand prizes. (See the YVL website for a full list of prizes.)HOW ARE BINGOs COUNTED?A completed BINGO card can have up to five bingos –at which point you also have a blackout, meaning all the squares have been filled in.Each filled-in square/title can only be counted once.A card with a single bingo gives you one entry. A card with two bingos gives you two entries and so on. A card with a blackout gives you five entries – and they don’t all have to go into the same drawing.WHEN WILL WINNERS BE ANNOUNCED?We’ll draw names the second week of April and will contact winners by phone or email.If your name is drawn and we haven’t heard from you within seven (7) days from when we first tried to contact you, we will draw another name.If you win a grand prize, call us back quick to let us know which of the prizes you would like. Limit: One prize per person.